News that covers Rugby League in Australia.
The NRL has brought in a list of new rule changes and rule interpretations ahead of the 2014 season. While some of these rules will be good and help move the game along, other just seem like change for changes sake. The new rules that have been brought in for the 2014 NRL season are:…
Phil Gould will remain at the Penrith Panthers through to the end of 2017 in a deal which will allow him to finish a rebuilding job he started. Gould has made a number of changes at the club with the biggest being signing coach Ivan Cleary from the New Zealand Warriors. While the Panthers have…
North Queensland Cowboys star Johnathan Thurston has flagged the idea that the NRL Grand Final should be played two weeks after the semi finals, with the NRL All Star Game played during the week off. This is a similar set up to the one the NFL uses where the Superbowl is played two weeks after…
There is no doubt that at representative level, Johnathan Thurston’s record is incredible. You can not deny his impact on Queensland’s historic State Of Origin winning run. Throw in his fantastic record at international level, that now include that elusive World Cup victory, and Thurston has done it all at rep level where the great…
Newcastle Knights forward Willie Mason has been charged with drink driving after allegedly blowing over the legal limit while on his way to training on Monday morning. Mason will face court on February the 20th. It is unfortunate timing for Mason who was one of the big names promoting the Auckland 9’s next month. Based…
South Sydney youngster Luke Keary will meet with NRL Head Of Football Todd Greenberg in an effort to break the brand new State Of Origin eligibility rules and play for Queensland. Keary, who under the new rules qualifies only to play for New South Wales, is being supported by the Queensland Rugby League. There is…
In a case of “What the hell are they thinking?”, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have signed Lote Tuqiri to a one season contract. Tuqiri has recently been playing Rugby Union in Ireland where he found himself the focus of the media for for alleged extra curricular activity. Lote Tuqiri’s last stint in the NRL was…
Andrew Webster of the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Penrith Panthers fullback James Roberts has broken his ankle at training this afternoon. Roberts was not only expected to feature in the Panthers Auckland 9’s side but was also a big chance of cementing the number 1 jersey in first grade this season. A broken…
Would you be shocked if I told you that Queensland was whinging once again about State Of Origin eligibility rules? This time the issue surrounds South Sydney youngster Luke Keary. Keary was born in Queensland but moved to New South Wales at a young enough age that he no longer qualifies to play for Queensland….
The Charity Shield will be played outside of Sydney for the first time in its history after organizers of the match ran into the perfect storm in terms of scheduling conflicts. With the World Club Challenge and a concert to contend with, the Charity Shield match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the St George/Illawarra…
Daniel Lane of the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Paul Gallen will make his boxing debut on the 19th of February, just weeks before the Cronulla Sharks season kickoff against the Gold Coast Titans on the 10th of March. It is a very strange decision by Gallen to take part in the bout just…
English Rugby League fans rejoice, for as Steve McNamara goes, so to do your hopes and dreams! McNamara spoke to News Limited about his move to the NRL Champion Sydney Roosters as an assistant coach, saying his move to Australia is a good thing for the English game. McNamara’s highest honour as a coach is…
When you lead a club to a Premiership, and then a couple of seasons later you are told you can leave that same club mid season because they simply don’t want you any more, that is not something anyone should take lightly. Similarly, if you are a halfback for a club that has one of…
The following is an official press release from the Newcastle Knights: The Newcastle Knights met with Russell Packer on Sunday, the first opportunity since his custodial sentence was issued last Monday. In accordance with Club Policy, Packer has been formally advised his employment has been terminated, effective immediately. “There was never any doubt we would…
Jamal Idris has received a release from the Gold Coast Titans and will join the Penrith Panthers on a three year contract. The Titans released Idris on compassionate grounds after he did not attend the clubs first training session of the year. It is being reported that Idris is homesick and wanted to return to…
The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that Cronulla Shark prop Andrew Fifita met with Australian Rugby Union coach Ewen McKenzie and discussed the possibility of playing Rugby Union when his NRL contract expires in 2015. The meeting included former Rugby Union player Craig Gower and Fifita’s new manager Greg Willett. A switch to Rugby Union…
The National Rugby League has handed down its preliminary findings in relation to the Cronulla Sharks alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. The press release the NRL put out was damning. Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flangan has been suspended for 12 months, former Sharks trainer Trent Elkin has had his accreditation revoked, and the Sharks…
The following is a press release put out by the National Rugby League: The National Rugby League (NRL) has completed its review of governance issues at the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Football Club (the Club) in 2010 and 2011 and the preliminary findings have identified serious failures on the part of the Club and certain individuals who…
Blake Ferguson has been found guilty of indecent assault at a hearing at Sutherland Local Court today. Ferguson was accused of touching a 23 year old woman’s genitals through her dress at a club on June the 16th while on a night out with Josh Dugan as they celebrated selection in the second State Of…
The Wests Tigers have just released this statement on their official web site regarding the knee injury Tim Moltzen suffered today: Wests Tigers player Tim Moltzen has suffered an injury during training this morning, Thursday 5 December. Moltzen injured his left knee during morning training, with the 25 year old transported to hospital via ambulance….
Are the Penrith Panthers really the most valuable sporting brand in Australia? As a Penrith Panthers supporter, I am not so sure… The Penrith Panthers have so many advantages over other sporting clubs. Some of them are just a case of being in the right place with the right set of circumstances. Others have been…
The National Rugby League has finally realised the draw for the 2014 season. The season will kick off with a couple of grudge matches and few afternoon kickoffs as officials look to avoid the warmer earlier season weather. City vs Country has been retained and the State Of Origin series will be played over 8…
Over the course of the World Cup Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League officials spent time in the UK meeting with their UK counterparts from various sporting codes. It allowed Australian officials to spend well over a month on an extended fact finding mission they normally wouldn’t have had the time to complete. Out…
He wants to break his contract early and leave the club due to family reasons. That is how Ricky Stuart spun his departure from the Parramatta Eels just a couple of months ago. Having signed a long term deal with the Eels and selling fans on his plan to rebuild the club, Stuart walked out…
Anthony Milford will not play for the Canberra Raiders ever again if he has his way. Milford told The Courier Mail in Brisbane that he was willing to sit out the 2014 NRL season ahead of his move to the Brisbane Broncos in 2015. Milford’s stance brings into question why the Canberra Raiders came out…
The NRL Integrity Unit has announced that it is investigating three separate incidents involving NRL players at three separate clubs. The Canterbury Bulldogs Reni Maitua, Newcastle Knights Russell Packer and Manly Sea Eagles Richie Fa’aoso have been involved in three separate, non related incidents over the last few days. Maitua has taken to Twitter to…
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the Wests Tigers could review their commitment to play games at Campbelltown Stadium in light of public comments made by Campbelltown Councillor Paul Lake about a $55,735 overdue payment by the club for stadium hiring fees. While the outstanding $55,735 has now been paid, the Wests Tigers are…
The St George/Illawarra Dragons will play less games at both Win Stadium in Wollongong and Kogarah Oval as the club looks to play more games at Sydney majors stadiums such as the Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting. The move is sure to upset Dragons supporters,…
The Gold Coast Titans are prepared to break the bank to lure Gold Coast Suns AFL player Karmichael Hunt back to Rugby League according to a News Limited report. Hunt does not come off contract until the end of 2014, the same time the Gold Coast Titans have a large amount of salary cap space…
Channel 9 has submitted a request to the NRL to show the Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs on March the 6th and the Brisbane Broncos vs the Canterbury Bulldogs on March the 7th according to a report today in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The match ups will see the defending NRL premiers led by…